Executing a pitiless punch to her opponent’s throat, Ally winced. Her knuckles were chafed and swelling. Her ribs were aching, making it hurt to breathe. Her palm, chest, arm, and cheek were bleeding. She could taste Rachelle’s blood in her mouth, thanks to her wolf biting the bitch repeatedly. And she was sweating and beginning to tire, but she felt Derren feeding her strength through their bond.

Rachelle wasn’t in a much better state. Her jaw and nose were swollen, her face was badly bruised, one of her arms was almost limp, sweat and blood matted her hair, she was panting heavily, and her clothes were stained with blood from the many places she’d been bit, sliced, raked, and stabbed.

Flinching as she received another deep wolf bite to her side, Rachelle ground out, “Fuck this.” Then, ripping her clothes, she shifted into a red wolf. Ally followed suit, giving her wolf complete control—and, as such, totally destroying her clothes.

The white wolf flattened her ears and peeled back her lips as she growled at her opponent. Hackles raised, the red wolf bared her teeth as a bold growl trickled out of her. They lunged at each other, their bodies crashing hard. Clawing deep into fur and flesh, they growled and snarled as they both viciously battled for dominance.

Yelping from a harsh bite to her flank, the red wolf sprang away. Chest heaving, she released a fierce growl, daring the white wolf to attack again. But the white wolf wasn’t in the mood to toy with her prey. Didn’t want a duel. Her human side had punished their opponent, and now the white wolf wanted to end it, to force their opponent—who by killing her would have killed her mate—to submit or die. There could be no middle ground.

She didn’t leap at the red wolf. She barreled into her, causing her opponent to fall onto her side. The red wolf brutally swiped at the white wolf’s muzzle before righting herself. In retaliation, the white wolf sunk her teeth deep into her opponent’s shoulder, tearing through fur, flesh, and muscle until they grazed bone.

Bucking and clawing, the red wolf managed to get free. But she didn’t manage to move far away. The white wolf slammed her body into hers hard enough to send the red wolf sprawling onto her back. The white wolf wasted no time in taking advantage of it. She straddled her opponent and pressed her forepaws onto the red wolf’s shoulders to pin her flat. Then the white wolf clamped her jaws around her opponent’s throat, causing the red wolf to freeze.

Freeze, but not submit.

The white wolf heard voices shouting. She didn’t understand the words, nor did she care. Her attention was on the female beneath her, who attempted to struggle free. The white wolf warningly tightened the grip of her jaws slightly, feeling a little of the red wolf’s blood seep into her mouth.

Again, the female froze. But again, she didn’t submit.

Giving one final warning, the white wolf growled as she shook her opponent. There was more shouting from the crowd, and then the scent of the red wolf’s mate as he rushed at them. The white wolf didn’t panic, sensing that her own mate was holding him back, that he would protect her.

The red wolf suddenly bucked, snapping her teeth. There would be no submission, the white wolf then knew. Despite knowing that part of her human side would be sad to take a life, the white wolf didn’t hesitate to act. Using her back paw, she sliced open her opponent’s midsection as she twisted her neck, tearing out the red wolf’s throat.

It was over.

The wolf backed away from the dead body, turning at her mate’s voice. He knelt beside her, wrapping one arm around her neck and stroking her head with his free hand as he spoke words the wolf didn’t understand. As Ally pushed for supremacy, the wolf rubbed her body once against his before pulling back to give her human side full control.

Breathing hard, Ally sank into Derren’s arms. A hiss of pain escaped her as her injuries rubbed against his jacket. “I’m getting blood on you.”

“I don’t care.” He kissed her forehead, disappointed that he couldn’t kiss her mouth but not wanting to taste Rachelle’s blood. Watching his mate battle, even though she’d been the dominant fighter throughout, had been agonizing. He’d winced at every cut, every strike, every kick, and every bite. Feeling her pain and fatigue had only made it worse.

Jaime handed Ally a bottle of water. “Here, sweetie.”

Hand shaking slightly, Ally gratefully took it and practically inhaled a long swig. She allowed Derren to help her stand, surprised when her knees didn’t buckle. Removing his coat, he wrapped it around her; it fell to midthigh on Ally. The pressure of the material made her scratches sting, but she gritted her teeth against the pain.

Hearing a gut-wrenching sob followed by a soul-deep cry, she looked at Zeke. He had his arm wrapped around his stomach, clearly in agony as he crouched beside the red wolf. Ally didn’t know what it was like to feel a mating bond break, only knew that the more developed the bond was, the more painful it would be to break.

“I’m sorry that you’ve lost your mate,” she told him. “I gave her the chance to submit. My wolf gave her the chance.”

Standing behind him, Matt gave her a nod. “Zeke knows the rules of our culture. When Rachelle didn’t submit, you had no choice but to end it the way you did.” He rubbed at his nape, sighing heavily. “Ally, I’m sorry I doubted you, that I let you down so badly.”

Zeke’s gaze snapped to him as he exploded, “She just killed my mate and you’re apologizing to her?”

Not liking that tone whatsoever, Derren interjected, “Don’t blame Ally for this. You’re hurt that you lost your mate—I get that.” Derren wouldn’t be able to function without Ally. “But part of the blame lies with you.”